The Houston Astros and Branden Backe avoided arbitration by coming to terms on a one year $800K contract.

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Backe missed just about all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  In the limited number of games he pitched in 07 he was 3-1 with a  3.77 ERA.  If he can keep that pace up in 08 this will be a steal.

If the new look Astros are to do anything this coming season they have to get something out of Backe.  Ed Wade has done all kinds of wheeling and dealing this offseason but seems to have forgotten about the starting rotation.  Right now the rotation scares me.  Hell, Backe could very well be your number 2 starter, so yea, $800K is great.

With Orlando Palmerio gone the Astros had a huge need for a light hitting left handed bat to come of the bench in an RBI situation so they plugged that hole today by signing Darin Erstad.

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Sorry, I just had to get in one finally shot on Orlando.  To tell the truth Erstad should be a nice upgrade over Palmerio and a number of the other scrubs coming off the bench for the Astros (see Jason Lane).

Should be an interesting 2008 season.  With all the new guys it is going to feel like I'm cheering for a whole new team.  Say what you want about the work of Ed Wade, but at least he is trying.  The bottom line is the team last season sucked and it needed to be blown up.

Ed Wade must be getting paid by the trade.  He has to be because he has made yet another move and has almost flipped the entire roster.  Just this weekend Chad Qualls and Chris Burke were sent to the D-Backs for closer Valverde.

The writing was on the wall for Burke.  After a few years of sitting being Biggio he doesn't get a chance to take over as the Astros signed Matsui.

Too bad about Qualls I liked him but I guess the Astros didn't see him as a closer.  This Valverde guy led the league last season with 47 saves, so he has that going for him.

In a deal that has been in the works for what feels like 3 years the Astros finally acquired short stop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for a steep price.  That price:  Matt Albers, Troy Patton, Luke Scott, Dennis Sarfate and some minor league third baseman.

What this trade also means is Adam Everett's days as an Astros are no more.  He was not offered a contract and has already signed with the Twins.

I HATE giving up the young pitching.  Looks like Wade is going with the lets out score everyone approach which doesn't really work (see Texas Rangers).

Don't get me wrong.   I like the addition of a big bat and Tejada over Adam is a huge upgrade at the plate.  But damn, it is going to suck to have a starting rotation of Oswalt, Woody, Backe, Wandy and Chris Sampson.

The Houston Astros appear to have out bid the Cubs for the services of free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui.

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How about that.  Just the other day I read it was a look Matsui was going to the Cubs.  I like the move.  It gives the Astros a true #2 hitter and results in fewer ABs for Chris Burke.  Speaking of Burke I'm sure the team is still looking to trade him, if they can't get a trade he will be the team's utility guy.

Here is your batting order for 2008:  Bourne, Matsui, Berkman, Lee, Pence, Wiggington, Towels, Everett and Pitcher.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

While I do like the move the team still needs another starting pitcher.  Wade is working on bringing in any free agent ex-Philly pitcher.  So look for a Randy Wolfe or John Lieber. 

Geoff Blum is back.  Too bad he couldn't have been here in 2005 win he hit a game winning homer against Houston in the World Series.

Geoff has agreed to terms on a $1.1 million dollar deal to back up every position on the infield (including emergency catcher).

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With Bruntlett gone and Loretta probably signing elsewhere there was a need for a utility guy

And so it ends.  The Brad Lidge era is over. 

Yesterday the Astros traded Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies for center fielder Michael Bourne, some mid reliever and a power hitting third base prospect who strikes out a lot.  So much for Tori Hunter.

In a way the Astros were screwed either way.  Keep Lidge and they run out a closer everyone considers "broken".  Trade Lidge and they trade him for fifty cents on the dollar. 

Two good things about the trade.  We'll only have to see the Pujols homer 290 times a year instead of 4,348 and no more painful blown saves after two outs.

Only time will tell on the trade.  Right now I don't think the Astros got enough, but I also liked the Jason Jennings trade so what do I know.